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Post by Cap on Aug 6, 2018 20:13:58 GMT -5
This is my favorite of the Takada/Vader matches, a series I actually really love. I like shoot wrestling a lot, but the blend of shoot and pro wrestling that these two particularly accomplish is fantastic. Takada brings some real intensity but vader is so fucking big and powerful that he makes pro wrestling moves look believable even in the shoot wrestling setting. This match has a big fight feeling through out. They build off their first match well but add a lot of drama and hate in this. I also think that from bell to bell this is their most violent and brutal match and that is where both these men shine. From my rewatch writeup on 7/2/2018 Vader vs Nobuhiko Takada (8/18/1994) Current Rank: NR Trending: Up I really enjoyed all three Takada/Vader matches, but this was probably my overall favorite. It had the best ending/finishing stretch and it had the highest highs in terms of physical exchanges. This also has such a big match feel to it. It feels like there is really something at stake between these two, particularly in this one as they build somewhat off their first match. I am not sure any match in this grouping is as well rounded as this one in terms of its greatness. It is high drama, solid emotion, incredible violence, great execution, satisfying finish, and it just gets more time to tell that story. They just excel everywhere here. While the match does have a low point or two as Vader seems uncomfortable on the ground, it has some really high highs with their striking exchanges and the way some of the submissions are laid in. Again, because I am just dipping my toes in the style right now this will get some further consideration as I go, but I can see this as having a real shot at the list. It could wind up pretty high. Full post can be found here: gweproject.freeforums.net/thread/657/caps-watching-project-reports#ixzz5NRyaR3bRThis match is now in the top 100 |
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Post by superstarsleeze on Feb 11, 2019 10:28:44 GMT -5
Weird fun fact: Josh Barnett prefers UWFi over RINGS. That seems strange to me.
I think the 12/93 match is an incredible spectacle (it basically made Takada a made man) and the 4/95 match is an amazing hero vanquishing the monster match, but I agree with the common consensus that this is their epic. If this series does not happen, I dont think Takada is a big enough deal to be drawing huge houses on his own, invading New Japan and creating PRIDE. This is a very influential series. This is Vader doing the two thing he does best: selling like a wounded bear and fighting back like he was a wounded bear. I like for every three Takada strikes, Vader would just hit one wild swing and it was back to square one for Takada. This should make my list.
Real World Heavyweight Champion Nobuhiko Takada vs Super Vader - UWFi 8/18/94
What if Goliath wins?
Yngwie Fucking Malmsteen of all people is there to present Takada with the flowers. I did a little digging and I guess Malmsteen composed/plays Takada's theme. That has to rank as one of the most Japan things ever. Lou Thesz says that his Original World Championship is on the line. I think viewing this through a shoot style lens is pretty unfair. It is an old school pro wrestling in the sense that there are no Irish whips and rope running, but the idea was to present realistic pro wrestling as opposed to realistic fighting in my opinion. It is all a work anyways. I am choosing to watch this as if I am watching a New Japan match rather than get hung up on the fact that Vader ain't Volk Han out there. Interesting start as there is no shine. Takada is trying to avoid early, but gets caught in the corner with those rhythmic Vader forearms. Vader THROWS HIS ASS DOWN not once, but twice. Takada is starting in a hole. Takada goes after the legs and anytime he can he is trying to apply the cross-armbreaker, which had won him the match in December,. Takada is such a great valiant babyface in this match. This reminds me of a Puroresu version of Vader vs Sting from GAB '92. Sting & Takada get in their hope spots, but neither one has a chance when Vader is in this zone. I think they told a tremendous story of for every three Takada shots, one Vader shot could put Takada down. This is some of the best stand up you will ever see. It was hard hitting and dramatic. Vader was lighting Takada up with palm strikes and forearms. Takada's kneelifts were vicious. Of course, Takada caught him a couple times with that trademark kick combo where the left foot catches you right under the chin. Really strong stand-up. On the mat, I liked it. It was not Volk Han vs Kiyoshi Tamura. It was ugly but effective. Vader used his weight well and when ever he was in trouble he would just palm strike Takada in the face. Works for me! At one point, Takada got pissed about this and just start blasting Vader in the face. Takada never did get his cross-armbreaker applied. It really became a great stand up battle as the match worn on. Just a slobberknocker. The turning point was when Vader was getting rocked and he just grabbed a waistlock on Takada and hurled him in a wicked German suplex. Takada would get a few more hope spots, but they were few and far between. Vader just dominated from there on out with some massive forearms. That deadlift powerbomb as insane. I remember that as the finish, but Takada stood up. The finish was inevitable and eventually succumbed to the might of Vader.
Goliath won with exactly what brought him to the dance, raw, unadulterated power and brute force. Vader really sold Takada's attacks well. His register is so good. He would take three heavy shots and then come back with a wild swipe and knock Takada's ass down. Takada would have to start from square one. I think Takada got enough "nearfalls" in his few knockdowns to make it dramatic, but Vader was on fire here, very much like GAB '92. So what happen when Goliath wins? Well David gets a rematch of course. ****3/4
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Post by mvz on Sept 22, 2021 21:12:44 GMT -5
I am on a roll right now and this felt like a lock to me. cutting down to 100 matches is gonna be so tough! Both write ups above so not much to add, but really appreciated Takada's strategy and the force behind his kicks and knees. Vader, I mean what can you say, he was routinely hitting great moves that managed to make sense in context and sold well. A hot crowd added to the drama. Great stuff!
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Post by elliott on Sept 13, 2023 17:07:28 GMT -5
Best of their trilogy & an awesome match. Arguably the best Vader match & that covers a lot of ground
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Post by lemming on Nov 29, 2023 5:40:54 GMT -5
I voted this #26.
This was in the first batch of Japanese matches I ever saw. I hadn't seen anything like it, and the other matches I got with it were all New Japan 90s juniors and this didn't seem to fit with them at all. In just that first watch it won me over from "I don't get this style, where's my *workrate*?" to "This is awesome and one of the best matches I've seen."
Maybe the most pro style 'shoot style' match ever, if that makes sense. This is all about the drama - selling and comebacks and hope spots to pop the crowd rather than making it realistic. Great performances from both guys. Takada would look a million bucks on offence and then get levelled by a single swipe by Vader and you realise how much trouble he's in. They tease the cross armbreaker several times and you buy that if he ever hits it, that would probably be the match. Vader may not have the technical skills to work the mat much, but everything he does is credible because of his size. At one point on the mat he traps Takada's arms and just hits rapid, nasty short palm strikes to the face. I'll take that over a worked leglock any time.
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